Long Hair Do Care

Long hair starts with clean hair.

Believe it or not, beauty has a behind the scenes. The beautiful and fortuitous honor of being a cosmetologist is knowing and seeing the beauty of those scenes. 

When you think of "behind the scenes," what comes to your mind? Make up, people who do the hair or the stylists who provide the clothes and shoes. Perhaps you think of the other people associated with them. For example, their wealthy husbands, fancy cars, host of decked out cribs and hired help to make all that beauty pop. Now of course that is the "controlled" behind the scenes of beauty. That is the superficial part of beauty. That is also the fake part of beauty. 

The true behind the scenes of beauty is the personal commitment to it via one's well thought out and executed plan to genuinely and authentically be beautiful. Of course there are things that accent us as humans to make us beautiful. Things such as our attitudes, body type, appearance of skin, eyes, scents, well manicured nails, pampered feet and the likes. Of all the things that capture and reflect beauty; none quite accents it all like long luxurious, thick, flowing, bouncy, colored, curled, coiled, braided, weaved, silky, straightened, locked hair. 

Long hair is achievable.

The beauty of behind the scenes is what it is...behind the scenes. Behind the scenes of long hair is clean hair, is combed hair, is coated hair, is hair whose ends are in tact, is hair that is pre-genetically determined to have it long. It is also hair that is obviously very long hair by not allowing untrained, non caring, scissor happy individuals who do not know much about hair; let alone long hair even touch it.  What you see when you see long hair is not only what people do to it behind the scenes to achieve it but in your face as well. When it comes to having long hair, regardless the many ways one can have it; only the few, the proud, the dedicated, the committed and the pre-genetically determined can have it. Don't shoot the messenger. Don't hate. Congratulate. Get with the program.

Long hair is not about taking vitamins and spending lots of money in the hair salon or the beauty supply store. Long hair is about caring for the ends of the hair so that as it grows, which it will rather you take vitamins, pills or not, so that they do not break off. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Long hair do care!

For those who have textured (curly, kinky, wavy and Afro) hair, achieving long hair can be a tad bit more difficult than those who have straight hair. For most, hair has the ability to make it's own oil called "sebaceous oil." The scalp secretes it naturally. However, if you have textured hair (curly, kinky, wavy or Afro), the oil has a difficult time flowing from the textured regrowth to the ends. So the objective in hair care is to get the oils from the scalp to the ends so they do not break off as it grows naturally from the scalp. In addition, coating the hair with oil versus water based moisturizers will guarantee that your ends will not break and snap because they are doused and saturated with water, heavy minerals, waxes and resins from those kinds of hair care products. I know there are a lot of women reading this with textured hair who absolutely hate oily hair. But coated hair does not translate to into greasy shellac coated hair. Coated hair simply means combing your hair to re-distribute the oils that your scalp produces and what you add to it.

Too much emphasis are put on growth when it is the ends of the hair is where the attention has to be. That explains why many complain that their hair has been the same length for the past 3 years or so. The manufactured hoax of growing hair is getting utterly and ridiculously out of control. The hoax is deliberately designed to keep you focused on growing and lengthening. Women and men are spending hundreds and thousands of of dollars to grow hair. And some are even throwing in the towel and is just outright buying it because they are fed up with the "lies" that they too can some day have long hair. 

Alopecia is NO laughing matter.

The truth of the matter is hair grows for free rather you take a pill or not. The other part of the truth is that some people will never have hair no matter what they do because they may have a disorder that keeps their hair from growing. Disorders such as alopecia, balding, thinning and good old fashioned aging are typically the culprits. Who helps those people? Nobody. Nobody tells people or remind people that alopecia is hair loss disorder that is connected to a break down in the immune system. So instead of telling and reminding them of that; they lie. They lie. sell and tell them to take hair growing pills, vitamins and use hair growing greases, creams and steroids to grow their hair. Liars. They are all liars. 

Women who feel they can never have long hair hair fall into what I call "groups." The first group is the "Don't Care Group." This group is where the largest portion of women world wide who refuse to care for their hair and do what it takes to keep it on the head as it grows out because they sincerely believe bought into they hype that they don't have do anything to their hair but grow it in order to get it long. How sad.

The "Aston Martin" of protein
for hair!

The second group, I call "The Same Ol' Length." This is the group who gets to that unwanted bowl or frumpy chin length hair who gives up and cuts it back off only to revisit that length over and over again. The last group are the infamous, notorious and rebellious "BIG CHOPPERS." This group are thee official renegades of getting long hair. As if chopping off hair is a bad thing, because it really is not. But what it is for most is a vicious return to not caring for hair. They end up being a slave to hair by way of the new age multi-billion dollar money making schemes called: natural hair, transition hair, protective hair styles, chemical free hair styles, organic hair styles and the likes. 

What do I have to say about all this to these groups? "Women and men across the globe, get your billions back!" And yes in my H&R Block commercial voice and yes the music is playing. Come on people, the time for this nonsense to stop is now. Turn off the constant chatter of growing hair and listen to your hair. Look at it, spend time with it and keep other folks out of it.

The beauty of the behind the scenes of achieving longer, stronger, shiny hair is good old fashioned dedication to simplicity. I promise that if you follow these simple steps, you will be amazed by how much longer your hair will be. 

Regrowth/new growth is strong.

For those of you who do not know or even realize it, but long hair is old hair. The longer the hair, the older it is. Hair grows from the scalp. The regrowth is very strong and has less stressors on them as it relates to heated styling tools, environmental stress and hair care products compared to the mid shaft and end of hair. Therefore the less you care for your hair as it grows out the more fragile and susceptible your hair will be to breaking and splitting as it grows out. Everything must be done to ensure that the ends of your hair remain strong and in tact. If not, it WILL snap off at the line of demarcation between the regrowth and long (old) hair. So get ya mind off just growing your hair!

Step 1: Dirty hair is the coup de grace of all hair at any length. For those of you who have a strong desire to have long hair, nothing makes it happen like CLEAN hair. So please, shampoo you hair at least once to twice a week. Do not listen to those folk who tell you that textured hair can not be shampooed frequently. That's like saying you can not wash denim as frequently as you do your rayon shirts. Once any fabric is dirty it needs to be cleaned. If not, all fabric will tear. 

Step 2: Next up would be the comb. Comb your hair to de-tangle and to coat it. That is correct. I wrote it before, so I will write it again. A comb is to your hair what a broom is the floor and what a toothbrush is to your teeth. Enough said. Long hair is old hair. Combing your hair frequently as it grows with the proper comb helps to de-tangle it so it does not snap off and break. And combing your hair helps to distribute the oils that your scalp produces to the ends as well as the oils you add to your hair. 

Long hair reflect inner beauty.

Step 3: Protein. Human beings are lean mean protein making machines. Hair is actually made of a protein called keratin. Keratin is protein. Most people sincerely believe that hair needs moisture. No, hair needs protein. Removing protein from hair care is like removing bones from your body. Yep, that is absolutely how vital protein is to hair care. I have heard many people profess their absolute disdain for protein. To that I respond, "Protein is to hair like the word automobile is to cars. All automobiles will get you where you want to go, the question is...how do you want to arrive? All proteins strengthen, the question is the source. What is it about the BMW that makes you want it over a Ford? What is it about Daily Hair Rx Xtreme Liquid Repair Spray by Philip Pelusi that makes one wants it over Placenta? For those who want long hair, have long hair or and want to see their hair grow longer; I say add quality protein to your hair care to up the ante for longer stronger hair. 

Step 4: What they don't tell you at the hair salon is that hair grows every day all day. Hair grows approximately 1/4th in in about a month, give or take a centimeter here and there. The objective to having long hair is to keep it as it grows from your scalp. Hair cutting is as essential to maintaining the health of hair as cutting your nails is essential to great nail and toe nail care. Getting hair cuts on a routine basis is vital to keeping your length. The question of cutting hair is how much to cut off and how often. I am not not who takes kindly to the term "Free Trims." Combing your hair down and then taking the shears to simply snip the ends is the quickest way to lose the length on tresses. Understand that every hair grows from its own tiny hole called a follicle. So combing it "all" down to trim hair is about as effective as using hedge trimmers to cut grass. In order for hair to be cut properly, a meticulous precision cut is imperative. 

Human hair strands do not grow
at the same rate like dog (animal) hair.

The life expectancy of one strand of hair is about 7 years. When the seven years is up, a new one starts to grow in again. For the record, all of your hair strands are not growing at the same time. The key to achieving optimal length from your hair is to have a hair stylist who knows that human hair is nothing like animal hair or hair weave. Because all the hair does not grow in at the same rate, the "comb down, FREE TRIM" is now ineffective and counter productive to getting longer hair . In order to see the length on your hair that grows every day is to keep the scissors out of it. I would not not cut my hair or have it cut monthly, for you would be cutting the length off. However, I would make it a point to have a precision cut by a well trained hair stylist who understands your desire to have long hair. If you wait about 10-12 weeks that would give you close to 1 inch. When you get your precision cut, the skilled and proficient hair stylist would cut about 1/4 inch, leaving you with almost 3/4th's to keep on your head; hence length. I use this approach with the Lunar Hair cutting concept to maximize the body's natural ability to grow hair in sync with the moon that influences blood flow and hormonal activity to increase the likelihood for hair to grow, stay strong and long.  

Hair growing pills can help but your hair
will grow for free regardless!

As you can see, getting long hair is not all they hype that they have cracked it up to be. All the hype about growing pills, super growing vitamins, protective hair styles, braiding hair up and all that jive is just that....jive. Behind the scenes and in front of everyone, hair grows rather you take vitamins, wear braids or not. The name of the game is clean hair, combed hair, coated hair, strengthened hair by way of protein and hair cuts; nothing more nothing less. All the other stuff is hype. Hype can help, but it is not the cure all. It is not a means to the end. At the end of the day, you have to care for it as it grows out. Hair, like teeth, do not take care of itself. If you do not make the time to care for either properly; fake hair and false teeth is the only resolve to the quest to have real long healthy hair and a healthy smile. 

Hair weaves have become a great alternative to having long hair when you simply can no longer wait to have it, if your hair will not grow, or it is simply your choice. What ever the reason, having it yourself is possible provided you do not have disorder that prohibits it from growing. If the latter is not the culprit to having long hair; I plea to you to give your hair a chance yourself. As you mature, grow your hair care with you. Invest in quality hair care products by hair care companies who offer money back guarantee and stand behind the products they manufacture. 

Hair weaves are a great option when you want long hair now
or if your hair can not grow due to genetic or medical
conditions.

Long hair does not equate to care free hair. Protective hair styles do not result in long hair that is strong and can be worn upon taking down the protective style. Long hair does not come from sewing in hair, gelling hair down or pulling it back "until it grows out." Long hair is not about buying the latest trend in hair care. Long hair is "do care" hair.

Long hair is a reflection of the simplicity of hair care, a healthy body and or genetics. Don't believe me? Just ask someone who has long hair; they know.

Different Textures for Different Folks

Maisie Dunbar
our Liberian girl!

"I am not my hair. I am not my skin," are the lyrics sung by India Arie in 2006 during the height of the "natural hair" styling explosion. What initially started off as an a movement to encourage those with textured hair to embrace their natural texture. The movement's mode of operandi to get that trend moving was to target women of color with textured hair and teach them alternatives to chemically relaxing their hair,  straighten their hair and for those with skin sensitive issues to understand that the chemicals ans toxic hair care products may be the culprit. The "natural hair" care movement suffers from what I call, "good in theory, but not in practice." How could I say this, you ask? 

Well certain folk has turned the "natural hair" care movement into battle of the textures versus those who chemically alter their hair, wears weaves or uses synthetic products against the "Black and Proudness" embrace your texture "natur hair" care promoters. This war is not declared in as much as it it spoken via the blasphemous comments made about our textured hair sister Gabby Douglas, the Olympic Gold Medalist and Pam Oliver of FOX during her coverage of the NFL. 

In the beginning "natural hair" crusade was suppose to be about natural hair. Everywhere you turned there was a natural hair workshop or twist out seminar or make your own hair care product training or a how to loc your hair demonstration and the likes. These types of information sessions were taking places nation wide from basements, to salons to large convention venues. 

Fatou our Gambian sister

Fast forward 8 years from the day that song was released and it is air apparent that the "natural hair" phenomena is going downhill fast. The quick-sand effect is sinking the "natural hair" movement by sucking people's temperaments and pockets. Why, you ask, again?  It's simple, as it relates to temperament, most consumers have what I coined, "The Big Perm Attitude" when it comes to their money. If you ever saw the mega hit, "Friday," you may recall the scene when Smokey had not paid a debt he owed to Big Perm. After Smokey failed to pay him, Big Perm replied, "Messing with my money is like messing with my emotions." Consumers do not like when you mess with their money because their money is tied to their emotions. They trust what we say.

They trust what is in that bottle. They trust the images of textured hair being sold to them. They believe it. That leads me to my second reason why the "natural hair" care trend is sinking fast. The second reason is the biological fact that all people from Africa or African decent do NOT have "Afro" hair. From a biological perspective, one does not need to be a geneticist or archaeologist or even a cosmetologist to know that all people of the same race do not have the exact same hair.

Our sister from Mali.

Yet when you look at the marketing and promotion of many of the "natural hair" care folk, one can clearly see the disconnect and the deliberate moves being made in the name of the almighty dollar to capitalize on women with textured hair who "are not their hair or skin." 

Not only does one not have to be a geneticist or archaeologist or cosmetologist; one does not also have to be a economist to predict a decline in the sales and future closings of anything that reads "natural" hair.  Consumers have the upper hand in this and they will not stand or march for it. What they will do is NOT pay for it. Just as Eddie Murphy shut down the sales of the alleged recession proof "Jheri Curl" via his "Soul Glo" scene in the hit movie, "Coming to America;" the same is sure to follow in the demise of "natural" hair care products and events via the taunting, teasing and subliminal judging done by us to us to push this natural hair care thing down women of color throats.  

Soul Glo scene from Coming to America

The reality that the "Jheri Curl" was icky, sticky and too trendy was put on blast by the creative mind of Eddie Murphy who was not afraid to expose exactly what people really disliked about the "Jheri Curl." I recall, the mass Exodus from the "Jheri Curl" to the relaxer. The "Jheri Curl" manufacturers were rushing and scrambling to re-make the curl less "Jheri" and more importantly less wet and less juicy. Snake eyes! They crapped out. A day late and a dollar short on not listening to their consumers. If I could hold a mirror to consumers today with textured hair to the consumers of the "Jheri Curl" and they look identical physically, racially, ethnically, economically and hair texture wise. Just as they never went back to the "Jheri Curl" they are going to walk away from any and everything that reads: natural, healthy, women of color, mixed, bi-racial, Black and African American. 

"Success leaves clues," says the wise old New York Times best selling author, Jim Collins. Have you ever heard of a needle designed for "fat" people? A doctor would never use it. Have you ever heard of a "Mexican" dish prepared for "ethnic" people? A chef would never serve it. Have you ever heard of "soap" for "skinny" people? A dermatologist would not prescribe it. 

Our Somalian sister.

Remove race, the color of people, the image of people with textured hair from "natural" hair care and we'd be reminded of the beauty of diversity. 

The hands of time will never turn back to something that never existed or was. I'm gonna put it out there like Eddie Murphy did. I'm just gonna go ahead and type it. Textured hair is NOT a "BLACK thang." It is a textured hair thang. 

Different textures for different folks. It is true that textured hair has its roots in Africa. By the images I have inserted in this blog it is clear to see that ALL people from the CONTINENT of Africa do not have the AFRO hair. All people with textured hair are not Africans, African Americans, Black, Ethnic, Women of Color, Mixed, Bi-Racial, Exotic and so on. People with textured hair are just that, people with textured hair. I can tell you from a behind the chair experience that honestly people with textured hair prefer you work and teach them how to style and care for THEIR "unique hair fabric" as Philip Pelusi promotes. They do not want cosmetologists, hair stylists, hair care companies, natural hair people and everybody in between associating the color of the skin with what we THINK their textured hair should LOOK like. 

Still have doubts? "We all do not want the same thing," says Rhonda Byrne author of The Secret. Different textures on different folks.